Gradometer



G. A. JOHNSON.

GRADOMETER. APPLltATloN FILED MAR. 23, I920- Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

Z/VVENTOE. z @W warren STATES Parser car ies.

cry-pr; A. JO NSON, OF SAN nrneo, CALIFORNIA.

GRADOMETER.

eas es.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLYDE A. J oHNsoN, a citizen of the United States,and -a resident of San Diego, in the county of San Diego Y and State ofCalifornia, have invented a certain new and useful Gradometer, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a gradometer for measuring the inclination ofthe grade of a roadway more particularly adapted for use as anattachment to a vehicle so that the driver may readily determine theinclination of the grade over which the vehicle is driven and theobjects of my invention are:

first, to provide a gravity actuated device.

of this class for readily determining the grade; second, to provide agravity actuated device of this class, so constructed that the ordinaryvibration and short, light tilt of the machine will not affect theindicator and make the needle vibrate; third, to provide a device ofthis class in which the weight is suspended so that the sides willengage its inclosing walls to prevent slight vibration from moving theindicator needle but permits its revolution upon regular variationof thegrade; fourth, to provide a device of this class with a clutch means forholding the weight operating device in inoperative position relativelyvto the shaft to permit the setting of the indicator needle for differentpositions of the gradometer on the vehicle; fifth, to provide a deviceof this class which is very simple and economical of construction,durable, automatic in its action, easy to install and which will notreadily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter myinvention con sists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claimsreference beinghad to the accompanying drawings and to the charac tersof reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device; Fig. 2, a side elevationalview thereof; Fig.3, a sectional view through 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing someof the parts and portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration;Fig. 4 is a sectional view through Specification of Letters Patent.

similar parts and portions throughout the cover is a sup- PIOVIClGClwith a c rcular which extends over a large portion of the same in thecenter thereof and it is provided with a central'hole inlwhich isjournaled the end of the shaft 13 which extends out through the casingand is provided with a handle member 14 on its outwardly extended end.This shaft is also journaled in the cover member 1 Secured to the shaft13 adjacent the support 3 is a journal member et upon which is revolublymounted the weight support 4 which is provided with a hub portion 43 onits one side. This support 1 extends upwardly and isprovided'with twolaterally extended arms 4 and 4: upon which are pivotally mounted theupper ends of the link members 5 and to the lower ends vof said linkmembers 5 is 6 which is semi-annular in form and adapted to rest in therecess 3 and provided with slight clearance so that the weight 6 mayrevolve relatively tothe support 3, however upon slight lateral movementthe weight 6 would shift sidewise against the inner wall of the support3 retarding the revoluble movement of the weight with slight movement ofthe casing 1, thus pre venting the vibration of the needlemember 10.However when the grade upon which the, vehicle operates changes, the

\ Patented Nov. 29,1921. I Application filedMareh 23, 1920 Serial No.368,140. i

Secured in this casingnear pivotally connected the weight degree of thegrade in either direction. The shaft 9 is supported by means of a'bracket 9. On-the shaft 13 between the gear 7 and the casing cover 1 isa sleeve 12 which serves as a support for holding the. gear 7 and weightsupport in their proper relative position in the casing.

' It will be noted that the weight 6 is shown in two parts connected bybolts, however it is obvious that this weight may be made in one pieceand supported by the links 5.

- Mounted in a hole in the support 3 is a pin 16 which is adapted toreciprocate'therein.

t is provided with a handle member 15 on its outerlend and with a spring17 tending to hold said member outwardly. The inner end of this pin 16engages the hub member P on thesupport 4- when pressed inwardly forholding the same from revolving when desired and positioned against thehub portion 4* is a spring 18 which is secured to the member at andforming a friction clutch member for connecting the member P with thesupport 5 and weight 6 under ordinary operating conditions but when thepin 16 engages the hub portion 49 the hub portion 43 is held fromrevolving so that the shaft i 13 may be revolved without revolving thehub portion 49 and supports 5 and weight 6, thus it will be noted thatby revolving the shaft 13 by means of the handle 14 and with the pin 16pressed against the member 4 a the appended claims.

' the indicator needle 10 may be set relatively It is obvious that withthis construction there is provided-a gradometer in which the weight forrevolving the needle with the inclination of the grade is-retarded fromrevolution by engagement with the wall of the support upon short,slightvibration but will revolve in said support showing the gradeinclination without needle vibration and that the. indicating mechanismmay be 7 turned from the outside by the handle member lithe weight andsupports being held fromturning by the handle member 15 'for' settingthe needle properly with the dial relatively to the position of theweight.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent is: V I l 1. A gradometer, including a'casing'hav ing. a circular recess, a support, pivotally mounted in said recess,a weight suspended on said support insaid recess ;on a parallel: axiswith said supportwhereby said weight is adapted for both revolubleandswinging movement in opposite directions against the curved wall ofsaid circular recess in the plane of its normal rotation and gear, meansin connection with said weight support for indicating the relativeposition of said weight support with said casing. c

2. A gradometer, including a casinghaving a circular recess therein, asupport pivotally mounted in said recess, a weight suspended on saidsupport in said recess and adapted for both revoluble and lateral move-HIGIIlJ iIl opposite direction-in the plane of its'normal rotationtherein and adapted to engagethe circular wallof said casinglwith slightlateral movement of said casing in the plane of its rotation and'meansin con nection with said weight support for indicating the tiltingmovement of caid casing.

3. A; gradoineter, including a casing, a

shaft revolubly mounted in said casing, a'

supporting member secured to said shaft, link members with the upperends pivotally connected to said support and a weight pivotally mountedon the lower ends of said links adaptedto swing in opposite directionsin the plane of its rotation and to engage the curved wall of saidcasing with slight lateral vibration.

4. A gradometer, including a casing adapted to be secured. to a vehicle,a shaft revolubly mounted in said casing, a supporting member secured toshaft, link members pivotally connected to said sup port, aweightpivotally mounted on the op posite ends of said links adapted toengage the wall of said casing with slight lateral vibration, a gearsecured to said shaft, a grade indicator mounted on the outer surface osaid casing and means operatively connecting said indicatorwith saidgear and manually operated means mounted in said casing for engagingsaid support whereby,

saidsupport may be held relatively to said casing. a, r,

In testimony-whereof,lhave hereunto set my hand at San Diego,California, this 17th dayof-March,1920, a I 3 CLYDE A; JOHNSON.

